Dry ore concentrator



(No Model.)

J. vH'UBERT.

DRY ORE UONGBNTRATOB.

Fig.1.

Patented Apr'.24,1883.

In ea/0r:

N. PETERS Phom-Lithagmphon Washmglcn. D. C.

TATES iTn JOSEPH HUBERT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DRY ORE CONCENTRATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,181, dated April 24, 1883.

Application filed September 2. 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH HUBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have made and invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dry Ore Concentrators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to ore-concentratin g machines of that class in which the separation of the valuable particles is effected by exposing the gangue to the action of a current of air of sufficient force or intensity to carry 0d the lighter matter, but to leave the heavier particles behind.

The invention will be understood as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The following description fully explains the nature of my said improvements and the manner in which I proceed to construct, apply, use, and operate the same, the accompan ying drawings being referred to as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevationof my improved machine, the revolving barrel and feed-hopper being shown in longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the machine. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the cylinder E, looking from the' inner end.

Ais aframe of suitable strength and stability, supporting a pressure-blower, B.

G is a supporting-frame, placed in close relation to the frame A, and capable of vertical adjustment at the outer end to give it more or less inclination from the horizontal. To produce this adjustment the outer end is supported. on screws (1 (I, while the inner end is placed ona pivoted bearing, 0. On this ad- 0 justable frame rests the concentrator-barrel, E,

which consists of a long cylinder having upon its inner circumference a number of inclined spirally-arranged ribs, g g, extending from the inner or receiving end toward the center and again at the outer or discharge end.

H is a driving-shaft, carrying a pulley, h, from which motion is given to the cylinder E through the medium of a belt, I. This shaft is geared into a shaft, F, from which the blower receives its motion. The end of a feed-hopper, J, is inserted through an opening in the (No model.)

trunk or discharge end of the blower at a point where it will direct the material into the end of the cylinder E, and the connection of the cylinder to this trunk is of such character that the adjustment of the cylinder to and from an inclined position will not open or affect the joint between them. A removable amalgarnating chamber, K, is provided for attachment to the outer end of the cylinder E. It is adapted to be placed in position for use or removed, as desired. The construction of these parts is substantially as follows: The blower may be of any kind or pattern suitable for the purpose. The cylinder is constructed preferably of sheet metal, and is connected to the end of the air-trunk B by what may be termed a ball-joint, b, the overlapping ends ofthese two cylinders being formed of curved or spherical shape, so that the outer end of the cylinder can be moved up and down to give more or less inclination toward its discharge end without affecting the union of the parts at this joint I).

The spiral ribsg g are placed at an inclination with the inner surface of the cylinder, so that they form a series of long pockets, so to speak, by which the particles are caught, carried up, and dropped through the cylinderspace as rotation takes place, progression of the matter being also assisted by the spiral arrangement of the ribs g. These ribs are set in two series, or with a break or interval at a point midway between the two ends of the cylinder, where a space, m, is left to place a number of outlets, a, closed by slides p. The ribs 9 9 below this point are of the same construction as those at the inlet or feeding end of the cylinder. The outlets n are provided for discharging the accumulated concentrations after each period of operation, at which time the motion of the cylinder is reversed. The end of each rib g is bent across at right angle, as

ICO

the apparatus will be gradual. They do not extend round and round like a screw, so as to carry a portion at least of the material out without scattering it through space and sub- 5 jecting it to the action of the air-blast. The cylinder, of uniform diameter, adds to the steady progression of the material. The head pieces 9 prevent the ore from being scattered backward into blower.

The amalgamating-chamberK is adapted to be set into the end of the cylinder E when required for use. It consists of a short cylindrical chamber, K, of largest diameter at the center and tapering toward both ends. Upon the inside surface is fixed a number of receptacles or pocket-s, a, to hold quicksilver. The amalgamator is removable, and is secured upon the end of the concentrator by fitting over it, and having holding-screws, as shown, to unite the ends. When fixed in the end of the cylinder it serves to contract the area of the discharge sufliciently to bring the ontcoming stream of matter into contact with the bodies of quicksilver held in the. pockets u and eifect amalgamation of the metallic particles. It is designed to be used only when the pulverized matter or gangue contains a considerable amount of fine particles that would be otherwise carriedout by the air-current and lost in the tailings. It is therefore made a separate part or attachment. The end of the cylinder is fitted with a conical flange, w,which forms a contracted discharge. When the amalgamatingchamber is used it is fitted to the end of the cylinder in such manner that it forms a continuation thereof.

The cylinder E is placed upon an adjustable frame supported at the inner end upon a pivot-hearing, and adjustable in a vertical direction at the outer end by the means before described, so that the cylinder can be set to work in a horizontalposition, or at a greater or less degree of inclination, according as the progression of the ore is required to take place faster or slower.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the revolving cylinder E, having a uniform diameter, and conveyers 9, set at a position slightly divergent from a horizontal, whereby the material is drawn gradually from one end of the cylinder to the other and tumbled through the space inclosed by the cylinder, with a pressure-blower, B, and feedhopper J substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the cylinder E, having the double set of inclined spiral flanges g g, and the outlets n, formed in front of the second set of flanges, with the feed-hopper and pressure-blower and means for rotating the cylinder, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the cylinder E and pressure-blower B, united by the joint b, with the supporting-frame G, having a means for adjusting and setting its outer end in a vertical direction for the purpose of regnlatin g the position of the cylinder, as described.

4. The combination, with the cylinder E, of theremovable amalgamating-chamber consisting of the cylinder K, having contracted ends and provided with quicksilver-receptacles u, constructed and applied to operate substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

5. The herein-described dry ore concentrator, consisting of the cylinder E, mounted on roller-bearings and havinginclined spiral ribs g, the pressure-blower B, having its air-trunk B connected with one end of the cylinder, the feed-hopper J, outlets n, contracted discharge w, and a means for rotating the. cylinder E, substantially as described.

JOSEPH HUBERT.

Witnesses:

EDWARD E. OsBoRN, Gno. VINCENT. 

